People admire actors, but adore doctors: Vice-Prez at AIIMS convocation

New Delhi, Dec 7 : Expressing concerns the over condition of health services in the rural belt, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said every state headquarter should have an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) so that people, especially those poverty-stricken, could access better health services.

Addressing young medicos at the 46th Annual Convocation of the AIIMS here in the capital, Mr Naidu said it was important to promote doctors in the rural areas so that the innocent people were saved from touts and dubious medical practitioners who not only be-fooled them but also exacerbated problems due to wrong treatment.

More focus was required to be laid on family and community medicine as these played a major role in improving overall health conditions of people. He said still a large number of people, especially in the rural belt, were illiterate and they needed help and assistance in the form of education on health issues and good health practices. Mr Naidu urged the young medicos and the medical community to uphold the ethics of the profession and treat patients with empathy.

'People admire actors but adore doctors,' said the Vice President, adding that the trust on the medical profession needed to be preserved for humanity. Mr Naidu also suggested that during the study of medicine before being awarded their degree, they should also be taken for village tours where they could spread awareness about health and disease and contribute in educating the villagers.

A total of 671 degrees were awarded this year including for different branches in the medical profession. The Vice President also felicitated the stalwarts of the medical profession and handed over awards to the meritorious students.

The convocation was presided over by Union Health Minister J P Nadda who awarded the degrees to the students passing out. AIIMS director Randeep Guleria and senior faculty members were also present on the occassion. (UNI)